Senate introduce bill to scrap immunity for VP, Governors

The Senate has introduced a bill that will make the vice- president, governors and their deputies lose their immunity if they misappropriate public funds. If the bill before the Senate sails through, the nation’s Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors will be liable for criminal prosecution if they are indicted for misappropriation of public funds while still in office.

The bill is titled, ‘An Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to qualify criminal liability for certain public officers under Section 308,’ is sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

The bill partly reads: “To persons who hold the office of Vice-President, Governor or Deputy Governor.
“If it is determined either by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Nigeria Police and Department of State Services through a collaborative investigation that the said person is indicted by a court of competent jurisdiction for:
“(i) Financial misappropriation of funds belonging to the Federal, State or Local Government; or
“(ii) Sponsoring of thugs to perpetrate violence that cause injury or death of political opponent, a member of his family, agent or personal representative.”